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(No Model) .2 -SheetsShee I.

J. A. GABOT. MAIL 0R PARCEL ELEVATOR.

No. 599,550. Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

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(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. OABO T. MAIL 0R PARCEL ELEVATOR.

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within saidchute.

UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

7 JOHN A. CABOT, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THE DEVERE ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MAIL OR PARCEL ELEVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,550, dated February 22, 1898. Application filed November 23,1896. Serial No.'613,182. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. CABOT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail or-Parcel Elevators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,-and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

Thisinvention has reference to a device designed more especially for use in connection with office or flat buildings for the purpose of delivering mail to the different floors of the building from the lower or any other floors thereof, although it is obvious that it can be 'used for elevating parcels or packages, as

found convenient.

The object of the invention is to provide a device whereby, for instance, in a flat building having four or five floors the mail can be placed in one of several receptacles on the first floor and when released by the postman an alarm is sounded on the floor to which the mail is destined and at the same time the receptacle in which the mail is placed is raised to said floor.

The invention consists in the features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View of aportion of a building, show.- ing a plurality of floors to which this improvement is applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the lower end portion of one of the chutes of the delivering device or elevator. Fig. 3' is a crosssection of one of the chutes.

Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates the lower floor of a building, and 2 and 3the second and third floors, respectively. Extending from the lower floor upwardly are a plurality of chutes 4, separate from each other and rising to the different floors of the building. As these chutes only vary in length a description of one will suffice. The said chute is provided at its lower and upper ends with outwardly-opening doors 5 and 6, whereby access can be had to the box 7, situated The said box 7 is movable within the chute and is fastened at its upper and lower ends to the cable 8, that passes around pulleys 9 and 10 at the upper and lower ends of the chute and is provided with a weight 11, that serves to overbalance the weight of the box, so that normally the box is held at the upper end of the chute by reason of the excess of this weight 11. To

hold said box 4 at the bottom of the chute and opposite the door 5, said box is provided at its lower end with an outwardly-extending catch 12, conveniently in the form of an arrow-head. This catch 12 is situated to be engaged by two spring-jaws 13 at the bottom of the chute and having inwardly-bent upper ends to engage the upper ends of the catch 12. It is of course preferable to make the catch and spring-jaws of metal, and therefore the sides of the catch are insulated, while the spring-jaws 13 are also insulated, for the purpose hereinafter to be referred to. It will be seen, therefore, that when the box is moved to the bottom of the chute and the catch 12 is engaged by the springjaws 13 the said box will be held in this position against the overbalancing efiect of the weight 11. Astop 14 is situated within the upper end of the chute to limit the upward movement of the box, so that it stands opposite the opening at the upper end of the chute. The said doors at the upper and lower ends of the chute need notbe provided with looking devices, but the spring-jaws 13 are controlled by the locking device 15. This device can be of any approved construction, preferably one in which a small flat key is employed and with which the revoluble head 16 is connected. The mechanism of this look is so arranged that said revoluble head can only be turned by the particular key for such look. This revoluble head is situated between the jaws 13, and when the jaws are in engagement with the catch said revoluble head stands between and out of contact with the jaws. When this head 16 is turned, its end comes in contact with the jaws, presses them apart, and releases the catch, and being 'a conductor of electricity serves to close the circuit in which these jaws 13 are placed. The circuit The locking device 15 comprises a tubular body portion, in which a key is adapted to be fitted for turning the entire device, and extending from the body portion is a shank, which is connected to the head 16, and the whole is adapted to turn with the said shank and also the said body portion when a key is operated. This locking device is adapted to hold the box at a suitable point, and said box cannot be elevated until the catch 12 is disengaged from the spring-jaws13. To release the said catch, the head 16 is turned through the medium of the keyfittin g within the body, and, as previously set forth, acircuit is made and a signal is given at a distance, and the said box can then be elevated. The key is used after mail is placed in the box.

It will be seen, therefore, from the foregoing description that when the mail or a parcel is placed in the box and a keyinserted in the lock to release the catch 12 the said box rises by reason of the weight 11, while an alarm is sounded in the annnnciator by the closing of the circuit by the head 16. The tenant upon the floor at the upper endof the chute therefore knows that the mail or parcel has been sent to his fioor.

As shown in said drawings, it is designed to run a chute or chutes to the different floors of the building, and in the instanceillustrated in Fig. 1 one chute runs to one of each of four floors of a building, said chutes being separate and each provided with their elevating and alarm mechanism. It will be seen that a device of this kind obviates the necessity of the postman visiting each floor or suite of rooms or the necessity of a tenant descending to the first floor to obtain his mail.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A building provided with a plurality of chutes leading from a common floor and extending upwardly to the dilterent floors of the building, each of said chutes being provided with a traveling box, a device for elevating said box, openings at the upper and lower ends of the chute, devices for holding said box at the bottom of the chute, and devices for releasing said box and for operating an alarm mechanism when said box is released.

2. An upright chute provided with openings at its upper and lower ends, a traveling box situated therein, devices for elevating said box, devices at the lower end of said chute for holding said box, and a movable member for releasing said box and for operating an alarm mechanism when said box is released.

3. An upright chute provided at its upper and lower ends with openings, pulleys at the upper and lower ends of said chute, a box situated within said chute, a cable connected at its ends with said box and extending around said pulleys, a weight foroverbalancing said box connected with said cable, a catch at the lower end of said chute for holding said box, and devices for operating an alarm mechanism when said box is released.

4. The combination with a chute having a traveling box provided with a catch,of springjaws to engage said catch, a circuit controlling an alarm mechanism in which said jaws are placed, said alarm mechanism, and a device for moving said jaws to release said catch and for establishing electric communication between said jaws.

5. The combination with a traveling member provided with a catch, of spring-jaws to engage said catch, an electric circuitin which said spring-jaws are included, an alarm device in said circuit and a revoluble head located between the said spring-jaws adapted to be turned and establish an electric communication between said jaws, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. CABOT.

Witnesses:

WALTER NAHLEY, Jos. L. ADLER, RoB'r. SCHWENINGER. 

